Match Thread Most liked posts in thread: Away v Port Vale April 24th 3pm

First game I'll miss out of choice since December. I'll be spending my tenner in a pub up the Dales after a few miles walking in the sunshine this aft.

It's not a case of being plastic now that the season's over, it's a case of having lost patience with the T&S negativity.

 

Once Canavan was injured the writing was on the wall. The O'Connors are the constant factor in poor defensive performances over the past seasons.

 

Is anyone really bothered? Pretty much a glorified friendly now. Players playing like theyre on the beach.

 

I take no pride in the fact that I called a mid table finish with the City squad assembled at the beginning of the season. Even with the eye opening transfer window we had in January, it would appear we have not strengthened enough, or in the right positions, to make wholesale changes, and the the current ensemble can now only hope of a top 10 finish!

That said, im glad Sparks got rid of McCall when he did, and we can only be grateful to Trueman and Sellers for steering us out of relegation trouble. Yet, given our position 5 games ago, I can't help but be hugely disappointed to have let the season fizzle out in the manor we have, and having not has a real go at it. I can't help but question whether Trueman and Sellars are in fact the right combination to lead us next season. For me, I think I'd be inclined to move them back to the youth team set up, and install a more experienced boss with a real style and approach, who can build a squad to implement it.

One of the most disappointing aspects this season has been our aimless hit and hope tactics that have been continually employed. It makes for dire watching and is frustrating to say the least when we have players at this level to play a much better/structured game.

I really do hope Sparks is ruthless with the cull of players out of contract, and gets the recruitment right for those coming in, and is also true to his word when he suggests our approach to fitness will be addressed over the summer. I really hope to see a definitive style in our play next year, an attacking style, and a squad built to achieve that. It really is getting tiresome being such serial underachievers season after season. Nothing less than promotion next season will do

 

Well, that game only confirms what I've been saying for weeks on end. I originally thought we needed to improve on every player in front of the defence but I now think it's worse than that. The only player we can build around is Canavan and, possibly, Wood. We need a complete clearout as far as we can. We have to keep the contracted players but even there, there are ways and means. Anyone out of contract can go. Anyone signed by Stuart, who must have the worst eye for a player ever, anyone signed by previous managers, anyone who's been with us throughout the recent years of mediocrity, anyone who's injury prone, they can all go. Our management duo can also go back to their previous jobs or, as someone suggested, be kept on as coaches to learn their trade. There's no point in pretending we have the basis of a promotion winning side because we obviously haven't. The most telling point today was the fact that our two wide players, both lauded as great signings, were substituted, one to be replaced by a fullback and the other by Evans. There are some huge decisions to be made in the near future and it will be a tremendous challenge for Ryan Sparks. He needs to be absolutely ruthless or we'll just drift along again for another season. I know a number of people, supporting several different clubs, who've fallen out of love with football and just can't be bothered anymore, and I'm sure that will apply to us unless we can show a convincing ambition to improve the awful product on offer at the moment. A big summer ahead.

 

You made the right decision. Can't take anything positive from todays game, the players as a unit have given up. The last three games are completely meaningless from our point of view, even an upturn in form means nothing as 12 of the squad are definitely going and probably more judging by some of the performances lately. Bar the league position we're no stronger going forward than we were at the beginning of the season, the squad still looks painfully weak and we still don't have a USP to what our team does well. We've gone back to looking weak at the back and impotent up front, we could potentially have a new forward line as big earners like Novak are out of contract, Donaldo too, Cook isn't even ours and mansfield have an option on him.
Going forward there isn't much there that i would build a team around and thats worrying for any future success.

 

No it's not, he started it.

 

Hes massively over rated and id be happy if he was the first one out of the door come June!

 

Last Four games have been nothing short of clueless and totally inept.
Ryan talks the talk but he's got one hell of a job on his hands.
Shocking performance again.

 

I couldn't agree more Inspector. I'll be honest. I was one who got carried away by T&S's initial success. Not surprising I guess, because things had been so godawful before that. The points they amassed got us out of the dire possibility of National League, and my was I grateful for that. But then we've seen things unfold. Beyond a game plan to get us out of danger - which credit to them worked - I don't have confidence in them to take us to the next level and challenge for automatics next season. The last six or seven matches have displayed a naivety and general cluelessness that hasn't served us well.

 

I dunno Keefly.

I can't help feeling it'll be another season of disappointment with them at the helm.

After a great start, the wheels fell off for some reason. They have to take the blame because they chose the tactics, players and formations from the same squad of players that looked for a time, impressive and at a point, play off contenders.

I just think it's too much for them and their experience in the game. They have met their level, which is sadly not enough for the aims of BCFC or the fans

They deserve applause for keeping us up, but in my opinion, shouldn't have been given an extended contract without a review at the end of the season.

 

Totally agree with your analysis. I hope Sparks talks to M&S about putting them back in charge of all our very fruitful youth development, much of which they were responsible for, and gets in a new management team early as possible over the summer. They did a great job in rescuing us - but they don't have the experience to change our shape, our endeavour to be come automatics next season. Reality must out.

 

I felt sorry for Trueman in the after match presser. I don't think he was impressed with the players today but isn't sure how to bollock them due to his lack of experience. Even trying different personel in different roles didn't guage a response. He's clearly an intelligent coach but at the moment looks out of his depth. The last six games have yielded one win, that a terrible performance against Grimsby. The Newport game was the end of the season, we actually played quite well and were hit with two sucker punches. Never the same after that.
My heart says they should be given a chance because of the run they had, my head says they are out of their depth.

 

I am really torn on it and I also felt for Mark today, after his car crash interview on Tuesday he was a lot more on the money today and as fans we could all see what he was saying and agree with it. But its hard to disagree there is just something that is not right with T&S right now and the nagging doubt is can they really change things to achieve what we HAVE to set as our goal for next season.

One other key thing for me though is something I have stated since things have started to go pear shaped again and that is that Ryan does not need to reproach himself about giving T&S a 16 month contract, at the time he did so it was absolutely the right thing to do. They had deserved it and some so in my eyes if he thinks a change needs making before next season it is simply based on the fact he now does not believe T&S are the guys to take us to automatic promotion - and this is the key criteria if he feels a decision has to be made

 

The signings in the summer need to be hell of a lot better than some who were given contracts in January

 

Just how I feel. They talk about experimenting when we should have at least had a go when the chance was there. What happens if we suddenly put 3 past Port Vale having played 2 up front....too little too late.

 

Back to normal in this second half. Absolutely turgid stuff.

 

Can't disagree with any of this. Once again, it's a near total clear out for me. Keep Canavan, Cook, Cooke and Hornby and the kids. Massive rebuild in the Summer again. I trust Turnbull. Do I trust T&S to know what their best signings might be? To fit the tactics they want to play? Not very sure on that shout at all unfortunately.

 

He played good football at a troubled club (Oldham) and really impressed when he took a bang average Swindon out of this division - winning the league. He got the best out of Eoin Doyle there and did a superb job given all wasn’t rosy behind the scenes there either.

He went to Salford earlier this year and although he has left it wasn't due to failure. Neville and the board wanted route one football to get out of the division, he disagreed, stuck to his principles and walked.

I think at City we’ve had enough safety first merchants. I loved Parky but not Bowyer. T and S are grating on me now given our capitulation when the top seven was at our mercy.

Wellens is from the old Man Utd set up isn’t he and has had a good schooling.

I think he’d play football that excites the fans and would get results here.

I think he’s an outstanding choice now available and would move heaven and earth to get him.

It would certainly boost ST sales having a proven promotion winner in the dugout.